Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-06-14
Going Home.

The Peoria Oil. Democrat, under
the above caption, pays the following
pretty tribute to our former county
man, Mr.. James West, now on visit
to his friends here:
Mr.. James J. West, Familiarity
known to the greater part of the men,
women and children of Peoria as
"Jim West leaves this morning for
visit to the home of his childhood,
Charlcstown, West Virginia. His
father, O we'll known citizen there. is
still living at an advanced age, and
his sisters and brother are there
to welcome him. Jim has not visited
those familiar scenes for years, and
the visit under the present suspicious
circumstances will be notable one
and very enjoyable to all concerned.
There is hardly man in the city
who would he more missed from its
public places during the summer
months than MIR. West will be. He
has the happy faculty of easy ac-
quaintance, and accordingly knows
and is known by everybody AL
though of strong individuality, intense
self-assertion, pronounced views on
all questions, and always ready to give
reason for the faith that is in him,
he has many friends among all classes,
and very few pronounced enemies
As the leading champion of temper
ance, tectotalism and gospel reform
in our midst, he has waged q deter
mined warfare upon whiskey drinking
in all its forms and yet has treated
his opponents so fairly, has been so
honest and straightforward even with
the men who sell whiskey, that they
like him personally. although they
would probably ondeavor to bear up
under the disappointment, if he
should decide never to return to Peo-
ria. In his work in the North Wash
ington street mission, and in his con-
slant and never wearying temperance
talk to men on the streets, Mr.. West
has done a wonderful amount of good.
He is natural orator, one of the best
the city ever knew. From bitter eX-
perience in the past, he knows all
about the terrible life of drunkard,
and is ready with his aid, moral, adj
visory and material, so long as man
shows an honest purpose and en-
deavor to reform. From his own won
derful reformation, and the positive
ness and certainty of that reform, he
draws the conclusion that all men
can do the same thing if they hon.
cstly desire to-, and make it their bus
mess to do so.
Mr.. West has been no less pro-
nounced in his political views than
in his Christian and reformatory work.
Although advised not to take so ear
nest part in politics as his inclina-
ton would dictate, there has never
been any uncertain sound in his dec
larations that belong to old Jack
sonian democracy, and glories in it.
He will take the stump for awhile in
his native State for a prohibitory con-
stitutional amendment which is to be
voted on this fall, and will undoubt-
edly do ycoman service in that field.
1t is likely that he will also make po-
litical speeches during the early fall,
and will return to Peoria the first of
September.
As an orator, Mr.. West stands in
the front rank. He has q wonder
fully fluent command of the English
language, - clear cnunciation and a
ringing voice, a good presence, pos
tive clear cut, incisive way of making
his statements and emphasizing his
points, and above all, an enthusiasm
and magnetism that carries his au-
diencc with him. Mr.. West will re-
turn to Peoria in time to celebrate the
second anniversary of his new life,
and he will be attended in his depar-
ture by the earnest good wishes of
the many friends which his manly
good-fellowship has called around
him.